Jennings Osborne, the man who is responsible for the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights that entertains guests each Christmas season at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, has passed away. But Jennings leaves a much larger legacy than just a bunch of Christmas lights. Check out this story from KATV in Arkansas:
The family of Jennings Osborne says the 67-year-old philanthropist has died from complications following heart surgery performed in April.
Osborne died at 3:30 p.m. at a Little Rock hospital.
Osborne had been hospitalized for 100 days, following surgery on April 18th. Doctors ordered the operation after Osborne suffered a stroke and heart attack in August of 2010.
“My father was an amazing man who all my life showed what a big heart he had for everyone, young and old and regardless of background or wealth,” said Osborne’s daughter, Breezy, in a statement. “Sadly my father’s big heart finally gave out. But knowing my ‘Dadoo’, there will be fireworks at the gates of Heaven. We want to thank everyone from Arkansas and across the country for all their well wishes and prayers. It meant so much to my dad, me and my mom.”
Known for his unmatched generosity and “random acts of kindness”, Osborne made international news headlines in the early 1990s for a giant Christmas light display outside his Cantrell Road home in Little Rock. Sightseers came by the thousands.
Neighbors, angered by the bumper-to-bumper traffic caused by the display, filed suit against Osborne in a case that ended with a state supreme court ruling that called the display a nuisance.
Osborne went on to place his lights at the downtown River Market and arranged to provide holiday lights at Disney World and Graceland.
Osborne was also known for his elaborate holiday fireworks displays–and extravagant barbeque offerings at Razorback football pre-game events. Governor Mike Beebe issued a statement as word of Osborne’s passing spread.
“With the passing of Jennings Osborne, Arkansas has lost one of our highest-profile philanthropists. He brought comfort and entertainment to countless people, whether feeding disaster victims, donating fireworks, throwing unparalleled tailgate parties or lighting up Disney World. While a larger-than-life public figure, Jennings was also a kind and soft-spoken man, who always shared his financial success with others.”
CLICK HERE: Governor, Others React to Osborne’s Passing
“Jennings Osborne was a wonderful, generous man who brought joy to thousands with his kind deeds,” Riverfest Executive Director DeAnna Korte said in a stetment. “For nearly 20 years Jennings and his family provided the fireworks for Riverfest’s 250,000 festival goers. He and his family were a part of our Riverfest family. One of our favorite memories of Jennings was watching his face light up as people all around him clapped and shouted their appreciation when the fireworks were done. He will be sorely missed.”
Osborne is survived by his wife, Mitzi, daughter Breezy Osborne-Wingfield, and son-in-law Tristan.
Click here for pictures and video
SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL MAN, I LOVE TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ALL YEAR ROUND.
I PUT THEM EVERYWARE I CAN THINK IT WOULD LOOK GOOD.
I HOPE TO SEE THE LIGHTS IN HEAVEN SOME DAY HIM
GOD BLESS THIS NICE MAN, I AM SURE HE WAS A HAPPY PERSON
I’m certain that today while many will note Jennings’ passing and smilingly remember his lights at Disney, his over-the-top barbeques given for a charity, at a football game, or given for no reason at all, his great business sense should not be forgotten. He and Mitzi built what the pharmaceutical industry calls a Phase I shop, a place where an investigational drug is tested in humans. All the large pharmaceutical made use of his site as did myriad smaller organizations. Regardless of whom you were or represented, you immediately felt welcome at his business; not because of some grand back-slapping welcome, but a tour of the facility from a big, quiet man with a shy smile and a quiet competence.
To truly appreciate him, I feel that one must have visited his former business, Arkansas Research, on Rebsamen Park Road in Little Rock. Every hallway, the conference room, the lobby, were all filled from floor to ceiling with (typically) 8 by 11 inch photographs of famous people, many of them signed, and a significant percent of those beginning “to Jennings . . . .”. The lobby had several large posters relating to the Miss Arkansas pageant. All of them were signed to the Osbornes, indicating to me the family’s support of that event. His office, approximately 20 by 30 feet in size, was filled with tables stacked high with yellow Kodak boxes containing thousands of other photos for which there was no space.
He did great work; he did good works. He will long be remembered.